Free Finding the Way Back (Book 1 in the Forgiving Hearts Trilogy) by Erin Landy

freezer now contained four dozen cookies.
    Just as he ended the call, someone pounded on the door. Glancing through the spyglass, he was shocked to see Taryn standing outside. What was she doing here? It was after eleven.
    As he hesitated, she knocked again. When he opened the door, she darted inside and threw herself into his arms. For a moment, Colton was too surprised to do anything other than reach over and close the door. Taryn was clinging to him as if she never meant to let go.
    His eyes noted her rumpled clothes and tangled hair. “What’s going on, Taryn? Are you in some kind of trouble?” When all he got was a strangled sob, he loosened her arms from around his waist and urged her toward the only chair in the room. “You’ve got to tell me what’s going on. I can’t help if I don’t know the problem.”
    She slowly raised her eyes to his face. “I was sleeping in one of the vacant rooms – or what I thought was a vacant room. I woke up to find a man standing over me. He wouldn’t let me leave; he thought I was there on purpose.”
    He took hold of her trembling hands. “Did he hurt you, Taryn? I need to know; if he did, we have to call the police.”
    A shudder went through her. “No, I kicked him in the stomach and ran out of the room.”
    Colton figured that probably dampened the guy’s enthusiasm. “I’m glad you’re okay. What I don’t understand is why you didn’t go home.”
    “My father threw me out a few weeks ago. I was able to get this job, but I can’t afford apartment rent.”
    “So you’ve been sleeping in the hotel rooms that aren’t booked.”
    “It worked fine until tonight.”
    “I see. Well, you can’t go back to that room. I’ll get a room for you.”
    She grabbed his arm again. “I don’t have enough money to pay for it. Can’t I stay in here with you?”
    Colton shook his head. “No, but don’t worry; I’ll pay for the room.” He dialed the number for the front desk. After a few minutes, he turned to her again. “You’re in Room 124. Where are your things?”
    “In the other room,” she admitted reluctantly. “It’s just one bag.”
    “What’s the room number?”
    “What are you going to do?” she asked in a panic.
    “Get it back – if I can,” he said. “What does the bag look like?”
    “It’s black with white trim. I think it was Room 345.”
    A faint smile touched his lips. “I hope for both our sakes that it’s Room 345; I’d hate to disturb the wrong person.”
    As Colton strode down the carpeted hallway, he wondered how best to approach what could only be a delicate matter. While he could fully sympathize with Taryn, he also recognized that her presence in this unknown man’s room was difficult to defend. Hopefully, the guy would be reasonable; otherwise, Colton would have to involve the police. When he turned the corner, he noticed a dark duffle bag slumped against the wall. He picked it up with relief; this was the best of all possible endings to this strange situation.
    Back in his room, he handed it to her. “Don’t get too excited; he probably went through it and removed anything of value.”
    “It only has makeup and clothes. My purse is in the safe in the manager’s office.”
    “That’s the best news I’ve heard so far. You can pick up your room key downstairs.”
    Watching her walk swiftly toward the elevator, he sighed heavily. He had solved her problem for one night, but where was she going to stay the following night and the one after that?
    * * * *
    As Colton showered and shaved the next morning, he tried to forget the previous evening and focus on what he needed to do today. Taryn’s situation drew his compassion, but at the moment, he was unsure exactly what he could do for her. He couldn’t pay for her to stay at the hotel indefinitely. She needed a more permanent solution.
    Since the final session of the day ran long, he opted to remain in the banquet room for dinner. He caught sight of Taryn making her way